It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (3/13/17)

I spent last week trying to settle down and get our household in order following a rough week. Thankfully, my heart rate is finally settling into a non-racing pace and my hot reading streak continues.

I’m continuing to rehab my injured back and was thrilled to finally be able to go for a couple very slow and short jogs last week. Baby steps, ya’ll. Weirdly, I discovered the treadmill is much harder on my back than running outdoors. If anyone has any actual insight into this, I’d love to hear it! And, my foam roller and Jasyoga “Lower Back Love” video have both continued to be my best friends (in addition to my Physical Therapist, of course).

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I finished reading…

The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso (February 7, 2017)I was so pleasantly surprised by this novel! It started out with a dose of snarky humor and ended on a more introspective note. And, it was a more substantial book than I’d expected going in.Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

The Fall of Lisa Bellow by Susan Perabo (March 14, 2017)I liked Perabo’s first full length novel, but not as much as I loved her short story collection, Why They Run the Way They Do (my review). I’ll warn anyone thinking about reading it that the publisher’s blurb creates unrealistic expectations (shocker!) by calling it “suspenseful.” The suspense is more in the emotional sense rather than the page-turning sense…as the story focuses on the psychological impact of being the one left behind in an abduction on a middle school girl and her family.Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy (March 14, 2017)I’m just over halfway through this memoir by a staff writer at The New Yorker (who also happens to originally be from my town). I love her voice and this woman has lived quite an interesting life.Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Upcoming reading plans…

The Hearts of Men by Nickolas Butler (March 7, 2017)Prior to The Hearts of Men, Nickolas Butler had published two books in his career (Shotgun Lovesongs, Beneath the Bonfire) and I rated both 5 stars. He’s one of my rising stars to watch who could end up becoming an all-time favorite author. I’m hoping his latest novel about two boys that become friends at Boy Scout camp continues the 5 star streak.

29 Responses to “It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (3/13/17)”

Glad to hear you’re getting back on the road again. If you think about the treadmill vs the road, you do run differently, since on the treadmill you aren’t running forward, you’re working against the treadmill. Glad you are enjoying the yoga!

Sarah Dickinson

Hearts of Men is definitely on my list as is The Fall of Lisa Bellow. Hoping to get more reading time in the upcoming weeks. Glad your back is on the mend. If you run on grass, dirt, or cider, it might be less jarring than the hard surface of the treadmill (just making a guess here).

When you run on the treadmill, you have a different stride than when you run on the ground, which can have all kinds of effects on your body. If it’s causing you pain, one alternative would be to do water jogging since it would take pressure off your joints. Of course, then you have to get in the pool, so there is that.

Sarah Dickinson

That’s interesting that your stride is totally different on the treadmill. I’d never thought about that before, but it makes sense. And my mom suggested water jogging too! The pool that I have access to is open at odd hours (i.e. not convenient) unfortunately. But running outdoors feels good at least!

I’m definitely not a treadmill expert, but I know that my strides and gait are different when I’m walking there and walking ‘naturally’. Even when I’m at the indoor track at my local rec center. I prefer the ‘natural’, even though we have treadmill. And being the ‘little bit clumsy’ person that I am, I have to pay a lot more attention so I don’t stumble. Once saw the woman on the treadmill beside me at a gym do a total wipeout (like they had to call an ambulance) and it’s made me cautious ever since.

I think I want to try THE FALL OF LISA BELLOW and was suspecting that the suspense was not the focus, but the characters. Good to have that confirmed. Have a good week and good luck with your back!

I know my cross-country running son detests the treadmill with every fiber of his being. He would rather not run than run on one. I know you run differently on a treadmill than you do outside on any surface, and I know the differences can impact knees and hips. It makes sense that it would affect your back as well. The baby steps are good though! Hopefully, you will start seeing even more improvement in the days to come!

Sarah Dickinson

I can hardly believe that The Unraveling of Mercy Louis was two years ago; Keija needs to write faster – hahaha! I’m so happy to hear that you continue to make progress on your recovery; great work! I may have to check out The Rules Do Not Apply; I am definitely intrigued by your description! Hope this week is a little better for you.

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